The macabre side of Macomb
Sarah Zeeck
Issue date: 10/30/09 Section: News
Though the paranormal activity Rickard has experienced does not usually take him by surprise, there have been a few instances over the years that have been a little too personal.
"Probably the occurrence that I definitely got freaked out the most was when I was still going on the tours rather than working for them."
Rickard said he and his fiancée had gone two different directions within the Lamoine Hotel; in the different places, someone had been holding his fiancée's hand and as they rejoined, something punched him in the stomach.
"At the time, I was startled enough that I almost gave up my pursuit of the paranormal," Rickard added, "but after some time to think it through, I decided that it would take more than one frightening situation to keep me from my search from the truth."
"There's a fine line between myth and reality, and sometimes in the shadows that line all but disappears, and that's when you never know what you may find in the dark," Rickard said in regard to paranormal activity.
Patterson said that this year, on Oct. 16, one woman legitimately experienced something unexplainable.
"We had a girl get shoved into a wall, and she's one that I would believe - she wouldn't make this up."
He added that a girl was grabbed by her hindquarters in the Western Illinois Arts Center (which was formerly a Masonic temple) and that there have been some strange occurrences and detections in Lil' Stitches and the Bailey House.
Through all the unexplainable matter and the dark histories, Patterson is trying to enrich the tour and add more of Macomb's history into the walk. "I want people to be going away feeling like they have learned something about Macomb and its rich history. It would be a shame to just let it fade away."
The final two tours for this season are tonight and tomorrow, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.amidwesthaunting.com or find their group on Facebook.
"Probably the occurrence that I definitely got freaked out the most was when I was still going on the tours rather than working for them."
Rickard said he and his fiancée had gone two different directions within the Lamoine Hotel; in the different places, someone had been holding his fiancée's hand and as they rejoined, something punched him in the stomach.
"At the time, I was startled enough that I almost gave up my pursuit of the paranormal," Rickard added, "but after some time to think it through, I decided that it would take more than one frightening situation to keep me from my search from the truth."
"There's a fine line between myth and reality, and sometimes in the shadows that line all but disappears, and that's when you never know what you may find in the dark," Rickard said in regard to paranormal activity.
Patterson said that this year, on Oct. 16, one woman legitimately experienced something unexplainable.
"We had a girl get shoved into a wall, and she's one that I would believe - she wouldn't make this up."
He added that a girl was grabbed by her hindquarters in the Western Illinois Arts Center (which was formerly a Masonic temple) and that there have been some strange occurrences and detections in Lil' Stitches and the Bailey House.
Through all the unexplainable matter and the dark histories, Patterson is trying to enrich the tour and add more of Macomb's history into the walk. "I want people to be going away feeling like they have learned something about Macomb and its rich history. It would be a shame to just let it fade away."
The final two tours for this season are tonight and tomorrow, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.amidwesthaunting.com or find their group on Facebook.
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